stemik

I had my first lessons yesterday Apitude Test This was a test with things like wirting inside boxes that got smaller matching different patterns and then 60 questions on attidude questions like " Do you show off in front of your friends? Lesson 1 There were 4 others in this lesson, including a mother and son pair and one really cute young lady. The instructor was also really pretty and genki I was in heaven! She showed us how to lift the bike turn it on change gear - all the basics. Lesson 2 We were now in pairs only 2 per instructor. He was an older guy and at first he was ki

Bushman has it. Opening race of the season is held at Sugadaira.

Not Tsugaike but it is in Nagano

How about this?

Hakunori?

sugadaira? - Pine something or other

This was also in the news this morning.

Did your mate pass first time? I heard that if you havent taken any lessons and even though you are a competent rider, they will fail you a few times out of principle.

No, only rode a moped.

I signed up for lessons for a chugata license. This will allow me to ride a bike up to 400cc. The lessons are in Nagano city and start on March 28th. (they are fully booked at the moment with high school and college students). 17 lessons altogether - the lessons are mainly in blocks of 2 and 3 with 4 on the last day. 7 days in total. I will have my test on the 12th April. They said that nearly everyone passes the test first time. Cost was ￥103,000 which included a few discounts that they threw my way. I saved the 3% increase in tax! Oh and they also gave me a inner protector in case

Well done Man-in-Japan. On badge tests, my daughter who is a third grader JHS just completed her badge test level 2 & 1. She really enjoyed doing it.

Saturday and Sunday are looking a lot better than today and tomorrow! But they wont be "saiko" If anything stay high on the upper slopes.

I love the mornings, I am an early riser. Usually around 5:30 in winter and 5:00 in summer. I take the dog for a walk followed by a relaxing coffee or two.

artificial grass might be the go! I saw some good looking stuff at Costco in the states last year, I am not sure if they sell it in Japan though. Crushed stones are alright (we have some) but it is nice to have grass for the color.

I did plant some korai grass (spell) at the front of the house. I think this is a Korean/Japanese blend. This seems to be a lot stronger and looks very nice, though it does turn brown in winter.

I think I will do some garden work this spring. I want to make a pergola so we can sit outside more often in the summer. I have given up on the grass. First we used luxurious grass seeds brought over from England. This mostly died after one year. Now I just cut the grass/weeds very short which enables the kids to play on the garden and looks ok from distance, but not too good close up.

I have to say that NHK has so far done a good job in covering the Olympics. Apart from that message that appears from time to time in the bottom left hand corner on NHK-BS!

no in Japanese, but he always said "Mr Eigo" The girl next to me was Chinese, I think she was nervous in case he said "Miss Chukoku-go"

I know it sounds rather mean, but I hate giving up my time to visit my parents. I would rather they came here.

I had to this a few years ago because i also forgot to renew my license. Most were asleep during the lecture. Actually the lecturer tried very hard to keep it entertaining. But because i stood out like a sore thumb he asked me many questions. "How about you Mr. Eigo?" was his favorite phrase.

It's to give course definition in case the light goes flat.

happy to see local Akito Watabe get the silver medal in nordic combined.

Like Muika said it was probably "saiko kimochi". They did seem to shout it after every run!

no of course not, and I didnt say it was "the best conditions" I was just emphasizing the word "saiko" what my friends used yesterday.

I'll see my friends later and ask what they meant.